Next Ride displays "accurate and timely" predictions of vehicle locations for light rail and bus, which makes trip planning easier, RTD officials said in a press release.

The application is available on the agency's website and doesn't require downloads from third parties. It's also optimized for mobile devices, RTD officials said.

For the past year, RTD has provided real-time information to third-party services like Google and Transit App. But riders have expressed interest in receiving the information directly from RTD.

"Providing technology that will enhance a passengers experience is one of our many goals as we expand our system," said Scott Reed, RTD assistant general manager of communications. "We continuously look for ways to make using our system more convenient and reliable."